Current Events 26 May 2016

NEWS

26 MAY 2016

GS II: BILATERAL (INDIA-AFRICA)

Govt. seeks to cool African ire

The Ministry of External Affairs moved to control the damage in India-Africa ties due to frequent attacks on African nationals which prompted the African envoys to cancel celebrations to mark the Africa Day event, organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Gen. V.K. Singh met a delegation of African diplomats and requested them to “continue with the tradition” of marking the event with suitable celebrations

Diplomats confirmed that the quarterly meetings with the MoS will be focussed on safety and security-related issues faced by Africans in India.

GS II: BILATERAL (INDIA-AFRICA)

African diplomats too face racism

GS II: POLITY

NC seeks implementation of autonomy resolution

Jammu & Kashmir’s special status is taking centre stage once again with the opposition National Conference (NC) submitting a resolution on autonomy for the ongoing Assembly session and independent legislators accusing the PDP-BJP alliance of diluting it.

“There is an onslaught on Article 370 in the name of National Food Security Act (NFSA), separate colonies for Pandits, and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). It has become imperative to preserve Article 370,” NC legislator Ali Muhammad Sagar told The Hindu.

The NC has submitted a resolution where it has sought the House’s support to “impress upon the Government of India to implement the autonomy resolution, which seeks [a return to the] pre-1953 position, as passed in the year 2000.” The resolution passed by the Assembly was subsequently rejected by Parliament.

GS II: POLITY

Cabinet clears Bills to expand ST list; nod for six IITs

The Union Cabinet cleared the introduction of two Bills in Parliament to add some communities to the list of the Scheduled Tribes for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Tripura.

They will be entitled to benefits available to STs, including reservations and various scholarships, etc.

Six IITs to come up

Six new Indian Institutes of Technology will soon come up at Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Palakkad (Kerala), Dharwar (Karnataka), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Goa, and Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir). ISM Dhanbad will be converted into an IIT under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961. The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting. It granted ex-post facto approval to the amendment to the Act.

The decision will bring six new IITs within the ambit of the Act, making them institutions of national importance, said a release.

GS III: ECONOMY

Government approves capital goods sector policy

The Cabinet approved the first-ever policy for the capital goods sector in the country that aims to triple the value of production of these goods to Rs.7.5 lakh crore by 2025 and create more than 21 million jobs.

The policy also envisages increasing exports to 40 per cent of production from the present 27 per cent. The share of domestic production in India’s demand will also be increased from 60 per cent to 80 per cent, making India a net exporter of capital goods.

“This is first ever policy for Capital Goods sector with a clear objective of increasing production of capital goods from Rs.2,30,000 crore in 2014-15 to Rs.7,50,000 crore in 2025 and raising direct and indirect employment from the current 8.4 million to 30 million,” according to a government statement.

“The policy will help in realising the vision of ‘Building India as the World class hub for Capital Goods’. It will also play a pivotal role in overall manufacturing as the pillar of strength to the vision of ‘Make in India’,’ according to the statement.

The objectives of the policy will be met by the Department of Heavy Industry in a time-bound manner through obtaining approval for schemes as per the roadmap of policy interventions.

India Posts

The Cabinet also granted ex-post facto approval to the proposal for undertaking cadre review of the Indian Postal Service.

The government said this will enable the Department of Posts to meet the functional requirements and strengthen the cadre structure both in the headquarters and in the field on the basis of functional requirement.

It will also reduce the existing stagnation and improve the career prospects of Indian postal service officers.

The proposal will be implemented through measures that include creation of various posts at different levels. However, there will be no change in overall number of posts in the cadre.